The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 3, 2010; 11:06 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110303735.html
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A reputed Italian mobster has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy in connection with a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
U.S. District Judge James Cohn also ordered 42-year-old Roberto Settineri to complete 500 hours of alcohol abuse counseling in prison. Settineri also was sentenced to two years probation.
Settineri did not speak during Wednesday's hearing. Afterward, his attorney said the sentence was fair.
The FBI snared Settineri in a sting operation using convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein, who pretended he wanted help shredding documents and laundering $10 million. Rothstein is now serving a 50-year prison sentence.
Settineri was arrested in March in what authorities called a major takedown of organized crime in New York and Italy.